A review by cliobemuzedbookworm
The Long Take by Robin Robertson
3.0
The Long Take is a novel told in verse. As such it contains beautiful lyrical language. The book evokes scenes out of film noir movies and cinema plays a big part in this novel.
Our protagonist, Walker, has returned from the war and since he considers that there is nothing left for him in Canada he moves to the US to make his way there.
The book mainly centers around PTSD. As the book progresses Walker's observations on the city around him get interrupted more and more with his experiences in the war, in the end culminating in a hybrid world in which the Los Angeles of his present day starts to feel like a war zone that he is traversing, while desperately trying to find someone to confess his sins to.
The war hasn't just left him with anxiety about whta happened over there, but he and his fellow soldiers also look back on it with a sort of wistfullness. They often seem to long to be able to return to those simpler days when they had a clear mission,a purpose and when they truly belonged. The camaraderie amongst soldiers is often refered to and is remains after the war. Our protagonist is constantly meeting fellow war veterans and this shared experience creates an isntant connection.
The book sets these dark themes against a dark film noir backdrop. Cinema becomes a major reference throughout the book. Robertson often literally draws upon certain movie scenes to set a mood, as Walker becomes a frequent visitor of the theatre. The title of the book itself is a term he borrowed from the movie industry.
Likewise, the book is very much a reflection on American cities. Robertson often refers to american cities as having no past and being fully focused on the future and their ever changing nature as a result.
I thought Robertson did a great job and created some wonderful images. i noted down several wonderfully interesting passages from the book. Overall, however, this is just not my style. It is too reminiscent of stream of consciousness for me. When the language would be just fine, I would find myself not really taking in Walker was experiencing. It was mainly the beautiful imagery that kept me invested.
"He woke suddenly and turned around, but the door of the dream had closed behind him. scrabbling at the surface he could find no handle, no handhold, to let him back into his childhood, to the bar at the end of the world."
"He dreamed a plane carrying troops crash-landed onto the cemetery outside Caen, and the long-dead were churned up with the newly-dead and he had to walk through it all.
Looking for himself."
Key words: lyrical, verse, PTSD, WWII, the city, 40s America, cinema, film noir
Our protagonist, Walker, has returned from the war and since he considers that there is nothing left for him in Canada he moves to the US to make his way there.
The book mainly centers around PTSD. As the book progresses Walker's observations on the city around him get interrupted more and more with his experiences in the war, in the end culminating in a hybrid world in which the Los Angeles of his present day starts to feel like a war zone that he is traversing, while desperately trying to find someone to confess his sins to.
The war hasn't just left him with anxiety about whta happened over there, but he and his fellow soldiers also look back on it with a sort of wistfullness. They often seem to long to be able to return to those simpler days when they had a clear mission,a purpose and when they truly belonged. The camaraderie amongst soldiers is often refered to and is remains after the war. Our protagonist is constantly meeting fellow war veterans and this shared experience creates an isntant connection.
The book sets these dark themes against a dark film noir backdrop. Cinema becomes a major reference throughout the book. Robertson often literally draws upon certain movie scenes to set a mood, as Walker becomes a frequent visitor of the theatre. The title of the book itself is a term he borrowed from the movie industry.
Likewise, the book is very much a reflection on American cities. Robertson often refers to american cities as having no past and being fully focused on the future and their ever changing nature as a result.
I thought Robertson did a great job and created some wonderful images. i noted down several wonderfully interesting passages from the book. Overall, however, this is just not my style. It is too reminiscent of stream of consciousness for me. When the language would be just fine, I would find myself not really taking in Walker was experiencing. It was mainly the beautiful imagery that kept me invested.
"He woke suddenly and turned around, but the door of the dream had closed behind him. scrabbling at the surface he could find no handle, no handhold, to let him back into his childhood, to the bar at the end of the world."
"He dreamed a plane carrying troops crash-landed onto the cemetery outside Caen, and the long-dead were churned up with the newly-dead and he had to walk through it all.
Looking for himself."
Key words: lyrical, verse, PTSD, WWII, the city, 40s America, cinema, film noir